CELTIC have issued a statement after National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch hit out at Dundee United for failing to adhere to social distancing in their team photo. The Tannadice side currently have 9 players and their management team in isolation after a number of cases were reported but Celtic have tried to get ahead of the story, after the took a team photo in the conventional way.
The Scottish Champions have now moved to say that they are comfortable that they acted within the rules, as reported by the Daily Record.
“The photo was taken and published weeks ago and undertaken with all established protocols. We will happily discuss this with the Scottish Government should they wish to do so.
“Celtic’s own stringent protocols have ensured that, to date, following thousands of individual tests, we have recorded no positive cases within our squad with the only cases affecting the club being recorded while our players have been away on international duty.”
Professor Leitch, who appears to be extremely cautious regarding fans returning to stadiums, issued a damning reaction to Dundee United having a COVID-19 outbreak after posing for a team photo.
“We were very surprised to see this photograph, which shows a clear breach of the Covid-19 guidelines agreed between the SPFL and the Scottish Government. We would expect this to be taken extremely seriously by the football authorities. This action puts individuals and their families at risk of infection and serious illness.”
BBC’s Brian McLaughlin says that Celtic are confident that there will be no issues and the club had followed protocol.
“My understanding is Celtic have been very comfortable with that photocall, it was all outdoors, players were together only momentarily and it was done immediately after the entire squad and everybody within the bubble had tested negative.”
Celtic were on the end of a COVID-19 ‘yellow card’ after Bolingoli’s jaunt to Spain but since that episode at the beginning of the season, a number of players have tested positive on international duty. The Celtic bubble appears to be safe and the club are confident in the stringent checks that are in place to ensure the safety of the individuals as well as the group.
If only Celtic were as proactive in communicating with supporters, who in recent weeks feel like they are just consumers to the club.
